Woman left toddler alone in Belle of Baton Rouge hotel while she gambled, police say

A Baton Rouge woman arrested Thursday is accused of leaving her toddler alone in a casino hotel room while she went gambling, according to a Baton Rouge police report.

Belle of Baton Rouge casino security called police after hearing a baby crying in the hotel and finding the child unattended in one of the rooms around 5:30 a.m. Thursday, according to the report. Security footage shows 31-year-old Brittany Mason leaving the room and entering the casino between 2:30 a.m. and 3 a.m., police said.

Officers went to the casino and found Mason, who said the 3-year-old girl is her child and admitted she knew better than to leave the child alone, according to the report. Mason and the child were then taken to the Second District police station, where Mason was arrested. The state Department of Children and Family Services took custody of the child.

Mason, who is listed as homeless in the police report, was booked in Parish Prison on child desertion.